The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1887-04-03

don't believe but what it'll be for the
best
You're always just the same always
real good, said the deacon, with feeling,
as he picked up his hat aud stared for
And Mrs. Hoieomb reflected that she
cou hardly be better than the deacon.
<
"She couldn't have had better day
for it nohow," said the deacon de-
lightedly.
1t was a week later. He stood at the
81 in s-room window, looking out at the
snowy, sunny world and rubbing his
| work roughened hands with quiet salts
| faction.
From the kitchen there came the odors
of simmeiing apple-sauce, OF boiling tur-
nips aud of hot mince-pies.
From The sofa came the sound of low
toned conversation, procee ing from the
corner where Kate and Mark Hill were
sitting, rather close together Mark, be
| ing prospective member of the family,
| dropped in TO dinner occasionally.
Up tue road there came the jingle OF
sleigh-bells
IheE-deaeon watched the little, old
| fashioned cutter eagerly as it came nearer.
| For the deacon's resolution had been
| faithfully carried ous. He had written
cordial invitation to poor Malvina, amid
| the mild sneers of his brothers, Seth and
| William, to be sure, and the astonished
disapproval of such of his neighbors as
were in possession of the facts: but with
| the Laughing consent of his children, ana
| with the warm aiding and abetting OF his
| wife
There had come a prompt responce to
| his lstter,-a brief note, stating Miss Mall
VIVA Holcombs acceptance of her uucle's
| hospi aitY; and stating, further, that she
wonld start directly, and would arrive
| few days later.
| The day had come.
/ he driver of the little cuttpr, turning
| up at the hitchiDg post with flourish,
| was Gene and the small bundle of green
veil and water proof cloak which he lift
ed down into the snow was his Cousin
Malvins.
The deacon hnrried to the door; Mrs.
Holcomb stopped ia the act of MASKING
The turuips and rushed out to the porch;
and Kate followed hastily, with Mark
Hill close behind her.
The bundle had made its way up the
snowy path. The green veil had become
| disarranged, and there looked out from
| under 1t sharp little face, with bright,
| dark eyes and TWO rows of faded cerk-
| screw curls
Were glad to see you, Malvinap'
said the deacon; while Mrs. Holcomh
| pulled her in doors kindly, and helped to
undo the yoluminous waterproof cloak.
| 1t was a queer little WON IN that stood
warming her small hanus at the kitchen
stove and looking SHARPLY from one to
another, when the last wrap had been
removed.
She was certainly past afty-so Kate
| mentally decided. She tlso dcolded that
| long earrings and a juvenile necklace,
| and tight cors, besprinkledl with gray,
were hardly becoming to her faded lit
| til face; and that her checked silk dress
was not in the best of taste.
| Bnt she felt warm impulse toward
| her Cousin Malyins. There was a kindly
| sparkle in her eyes as she looked around
| the modest tabe-Mrs. Holcomb had
| taken up he dinner with hospitable haste
| at the deacon, carving, with beaming
face; at Kate and Mark sideaby side of
| cousin, and engaged at that moment in
an affectionate altercation at Mrs. Hol-
comb dishing the apple sauce; and at
! Gene, who had come in, Geld and snowy,
! from The barn.
She did not appear to be much of
talker. She answered their inquiries in
chirpy monosylables. turning her gaze
| meditatively around the small bare room.
and through the door to the calico covered
| sofa and the well worn rag cArpet OF the
| sitting room.
But she wore look Of quiet satisfaction
| and enjoyment, and by the time the last
| of the mince pies had disappeared and
| the dishes been washed Drlskly by Hates
nimble hands, and they were all gathered
around the sitting room stove, 1t had deep
| ened into positive warmth, which soft
sned her sharp eyes and gave pink tiage
| to her faded cheeks.
Il should judge, Uncle Holcorhb," said
Malvina, turning upon the deacon
should judge now, that you amt so well
| off as you might be9'
1t was an embarrassing enquiry. Mark
Hill LOOKED at his boots and pretended
not to have heard it: and Kate and Gene
exchanged indignant glances.
Surely any other remark would have
come better from their Cousin Malvina
under the circumsta noes.
"Well, no, said the deacon meekiy.
"And | suppose" Malvna continued
calmly-s1 suppose Uncle Seth and Uncle
William are considerably better off, now
amt they?"
We'll yes, said the deacon. 'they De.
so the Colone, said. | always called
him the Colonel" Malvina said.
And there was a suspicion of mistineSs
in her eyes as she SPOKE the name.
Thee was silence, broken sharply by
the juggling of Malvina's long ear rings,
as she sat straight UP III her Chair sud
denly.
81 shan't wait another minute, she said
Il DslA ~ n1x,s- Il at
TO be hasiy but to look into things little
first. But couldn't know you any better
if | waited year. you dear. good old
man.
Her listeners stared at each other in
sllent alarm and Kate idyad q little